Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 50 Friendship

(This is my beautiful friend Claudia, whose father recently passed away, in a prior photo of her and myself, and here is the poem she asked me to read at her father’s memorial yesterday. The scene is still fresh in my mind. I wish I had taken a photo of the entire family, because people, especially family–my own and others’–are so beautiful. People are beautiful.  As background to the poem, Claudia’s father was a jeweler.)

♦

In His Image

–To My Father on his Birthday

by Christina Wilson for Claudia Brock

In a recess of my jewel box

where the velvet’s been worn away

lies a cornelian cameo pin—

in tones of pink and gray.

I remember well the day you gave it

my ears turned and bent away

my hardened heart refused to listen

to what you wanted to say.

In the obscure depths of a distant sea

grew the shell, a living stone.

Before it knew the carver’s knife

its features were unknown.

Beneath the hand of the carver’s grace

in relief as red as life

a gentle portrait of the carver’s love

through patient skill took shape.

I as a child in my time at home

grew as a conch in the sea

and time with its cares, worries, and woe

has been a knife on me.

As with the shell whose death, unsealed,

became a graceful form

I thank the only Carver I know

for the love you shed on me.

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 49 Ain’t Done Lovin’ the Rain

 I think we need

to make the rain our friend

silvery wet stuff

falling from the sky

like adding smudge and blur or noise and multiply

so many things go wrong

without it–brown trees

all over town

they hack and chop

and cart away

they’ll never come back

brown grass and shriveled leaves

a dullish shade of green with gray–

but mostly

rain draws me upward

to consider and ask

what is going on here?

why choose wetness from the sky?

earth inside her mother’s womb

reborn before our very eyes

God you are amazing

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 48 Late Christmas Present

My son  had these

all ready to give

a month ahead of time

and then forgot to give them

so like him

creativity has its limits

3-D printing

from code he wrote

sent out to a professional printer

a flower vase for mom

and little play-things for dad

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 47 Friend in a Ditch

Beauty is…the friend

who crouches

in a cold, wet ditch

listening for the leak

that still plagues

my main water line

He knows nothing about buying

a romantic gift

nor even one that’s original

except maybe

the time he bought me

the unabridged dictionary

for my birthday

we weren’t getting along by then

I still use it all the time

the gardening tools for Christmas

I could have done without

but enough

you get the idea

now

it’s simple chocolate

albeit the best in town

This is the guy

who thoroughly enjoys McDonald’s

for Thursday breakfast

then spends the next four hours

looking for that baffling leak

action as gift

that benefits

only me not him

Should I still be pushing for changes

or simply take him as he is

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 46 Electricity

A neighborhood without power for one whole day

from wake-up through dinner

no lights

no Wi-Fi

no computer

no warm water

no heat

no comfort

one of the coldest days of the year

not like Alaska cold

but still cold for indoors

neighbors out walking

that’s a rare sight

not much else to do

driving home

rounding the corner

there’s my place

Lights!

Hallelujia! Hot coffee

and a warm bath

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 45 An Exposed Pipe and Water in a Hole

The plumber was about ready to give up

and reroute the whole pipe

an expensive proposition

alone inside

I had a time of serious prayer

went out to turn off the water main

to save the leaking water

when

Eureka!

water in the hole the plumber had dug

indicating

that he should keep digging

perhaps

just a little bit more

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 44 Celebration

Magnolia blossom in the sky

heaven decreed light show celebrates

Grandbaby’s birth

God’s way of showing me

he hears and knows my heart’s joy

confirms

receives my worship gladly

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 43 Sister Greets Sister

Just joy

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 42 First Glimpse

What was inside

out

what was hidden

revealed

welcome to gramma’s heart

little one

and to our family home

you are loved

watched over

prayed for

day and night

you are in the Father’s heart

from eternity past

you have a place

we welcome you here

eat sleep rest grow

Find one beautiful thing every day and take a photo of it.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Beauty Day 41 Water Leak Found

Whoop Whoop and Holler!

the water leak is found!

it’s not inside my condo

not in my neighbors’ yards

nor under asphalt

nor concrete

doesn’t involve the HOA

I get to begin fixing the main!